VANCOUVER — All it took was a James Reimer sighting for Twitter types to let their fingers do the talking Monday.

As soon as the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender took to the UBC ice with locked out members of the Vancouver Canucks, tweeps concluded in 140 or less characters that this was a prelude to a Roberto Luongo trade, that Reimer should get to know his new teammates and look for a house.

If anything, it added levity on the one-month anniversary of the NHL lockout in which players missed their first cheques and didn’t expect lasting results when collective bargaining agreement talks resume Tuesday. So, leave it to Twitter to make more of it than Reimer visiting his in-laws and skating.

“If you want the truth, go to Twitter. That’s funny,” chuckled Reimer. “I didn’t even really think of that. I’m sure the rumours will be spreading. As far as I know, when the season comes back, I’m still a Maple Leaf.”

Reimer knows Toronto is one of many rumoured destinations for Luongo once a new CBA is struck — Florida, Chicago and Columbus are among others — and the young Leafs aren’t that far from pushing for a playoff position. Especially with a front-line stopper, even if Reimer is under contract for two more seasons at $1.8 million US annually and a two-way contract is allowing Ben Scrivens to play in the AHL. Luongo is a $5.3 million salary cap hit the next 10 seasons and will be paid $6.7 million annually the next six. But when it mattered most, Reimer lost nine of his final 13 starts to start the clamour for a more credible crease solution.

“Rumours are rumours,” added Reimer. “Anyone can start one. If he [Luongo] would end up coming to the Leafs, then you battle and I’d do my part to try to be in there for as many games as possible. If he came, he’s a great goalie and I’m sure if would be a great competition and I’d learn a lot from him. He’s got a lot to teach.”

It won’t be about how to get along with goalie coach Francois Allaire, who schooled Luongo. Amid much finger-pointing and accusations of too much interference, Allaire left the Leafs last month as was replaced by Rick St. Croix. Reimer lauded Allaire but admitted to widespread frustration.

“Everything is worse when you’re not playing well and the team isn’t playing well,” he added. “Everything gets magnified and that’s just what happens. Tempers boil over.”

Meanwhile, missing first cheques was easier for those who structured their contracts to include signing bonuses paid July 1, but the 8.5 per cent escrow payments from last season will return to players by the end of this month. Still, that hasn’t eased growing tension. Players are adamant that moving off their initial offer to cap increases by two per cent annually the next three years — then return to 57 per cent of revenue they enjoyed when the CBA expired — would be a sign of weakness because that proposal offered $456 million in revenue sharing. Owners want an immediate salary reduction.

“The league is trying to act like we haven’t done anything — they say it’s not significant,” said Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis. “If they consider $456 million not significant, then it might be a while before they wrap their heads around that. The system they’re proposing is taking money out of our pockets and small-market teams are going to have the same problems.”

Cory Schneider is on the 31-player NHLPA negotiating committee and suggested the union isn’t willing to cave and accept a new CBA that may cost them $1 billion over five years, especially when the league had revenues of $3.3 billion last season and growing at a rate of seven per cent annually.

“Probably the only company in the world [NHL] who is forecasting negative growth over the next five years,” said the Canucks goalie. “We’re trying to be reasonable and not make it a cash grab for them and put it places where it’s not useful.”

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